News

United States Donates Food For WFP To Feed Children And Vulnerable People

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has received today from the United States Government a donation of 4,000 metric tons of food (worth US$6.5 million) to assist communities vulnerable to food insecurity and malnutrition in the Central African Republic (CAR).

“WFP is extremely grateful for this generous American contribution,” said Sitta Kai-Kai, WFP Representative in the CAR.

“It is yet more evidence of the continued commitment on the part of the U.S. Government to the fight against hunger,” added Sitta Kai-Kai. “This contribution will help to protect thousands of vulnerable people as well as to assist malnourished children in this country.”

The US Ambassador in the CAR will officially present this contribution to the Central African Minister for the Economy, Planning and International Cooperation during a ceremony, which will be held tomorrow (5 April 2011) at the logistical base of WFP in Bangui. The food will then be distributed by WFP.

The donation of cereals, pulses, corn-soya blend (CSB) and vegetable oil will feed more than 80,000 people in conflict-affected zones for about four months. These include 38,000 refugees and displaced people, 20,000 malnourished children and mothers and 22,000 vulnerable local people undertaking ‘food-for-work’ activities.

There are currently 192,000 displaced people and 25,000 refugees in the CAR. Thirty percent of the population of 4 million is food insecure and the rate of global acute malnutrition (GAM) for children under 5 is 10 percent.

These food commodities will save the lives of people with no other means to feed themselves and contribute to improving the nutritional status of malnourished children and women. The food will also help local communities rebuild basic infrastructure and strengthen their means of subsistence.

The United States is now at the top of WFP’s donor list, having contributed US$ 340 million since the beginning of 2011.